Literal reflection can happen so naturally, so easily, at surface level. It can be as simple as looking in a mirror or walking by a window and seeing yourself in it. It happens all the time, endless times in everyday life without even having to try or be aware of it. It happens and most people think nothing of it.
As Dr. Beth defined it in class today, reflection is “turning to face something that has already happened”. Reflection, by this definition, is so much more than surface level. Reflection is understanding that the experiences we have as humans shape us and the decisions that we make are a product of who we are and the life that we have lived. It is something that comes incredibly naturally to some, and something that some people struggle mightily with. When done right, it is a valuable, healthy, and necessary part of life for everyone.
In class, we read Yusef Komunyakaa’s poem “Facing It”. This poem is about the speaker’s experience visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and reflecting upon his own experience as a veteran. This piece, to me, is the perfect example of what reflection means at surface level (seeing his reflection in the stone) but also what reflection means below the surface. As a veteran of the war, visiting this memorial was not only a way to remember his friends and the lives lost, but also an experience that reminded him how easily he could have been one of those names on the wall instead of a man standing in front of them. Being able to unpack the surface level reflection of himself on the stone wall while also unpacking the reflection he experiences in regards to the war and what the traumatic experience has done to him and how it has impacted his life allowed me to really get a grip on what reflection is and what it means.
As I near the end of my first semester of college, I have a great deal to reflect upon. Perhaps talking with those in my group has really allowed me to realize just how important it is that I do just that. Reflection is something I have always done, but to find a practical, academic application for it and to see that it matters is validating for me. To face what has already happened, be grateful for what it has taught you, and decide where to go from here: I believe that is something everyone could benefit from doing more often.